More > JRiver Media Center 24 for Windows
NEW: ZoneSync 2
JohnT:
Summary
This new feature allows simultaneous playback of Linked Zones. At this time, it works best with zones that run JRiver Media Center.
Details
Media Center 24 introduces more precise syncing of audio playback over multiple Media Center zones. If all zones within a zone link group have this version or newer, they will start playback at the same time.
Requirements to achieve best results
1. On Windows, use WASAPI audio in exclusive mode, with a buffer size between 25 and 100 milliseconds.
2. Set playback options for each zone to match the image below.
3. Avoid Bluetooth or wifi audio zones or complicated output chains.
4. Play songs at the same sample rate with the same channel setup (stereo).
5. Turn off conversion in Media Network / Add or configure DLNA servers... / Audio / Mode: "Original"
6. No DSP filters.
7. Important: Make sure the DLNA "SetNext" command is not disabled on your remote zones. On your main zone computer, right-click on the remote zone and make sure the menu choice "DLNA Controller Options / Disable SetNext support..." is NOT checked. See image below.
There will be a short pause (a couple seconds) for every Play, Pause, Seek, Next, Previous etc. command. We expect to be able to shorten this pause in the future.
The zone that starts playback is "main" zone and time server for the remote zones.
Manually tweaking the sync
The sync system is a work in progress and you may experience out of sync audio on some zones. However you should be able to perform a one-time manual sync adjustment to fix it. On the main zone computer, right-click on a linked zone and select "Adjust link timing..." and then adjust the slider until the audio is synced. Note that you have to restart playback each time an adjustment is made for it to take effect.
Audio settings
Make sure "Disable SetNext ..." option for remote Media Center zone does NOT have a check-mark by it.
Gatherum:
Does this currently work with Linux zones, particularly with Windows as the server and Linux as the client?
As a test, I linked the Player zone on my Windows machine to the one on my Linux machine and initiated play-back on the former. Play-back began successfully on the Windows machine and queued on the Linux machine (I have it set to jump to Theatre View Playing Now on audio play-back); unfortunately, play-back on the latter never started. It hung at the beginning point of the track instead.
Admittedly, my Windows machine is running on wi-fi right now. I plan to buy a couple of MoCA adapters to rectify this later, but...yeah. Full disclosure. This very guide recommends avoiding wi-fi. Is that merely to say that it will work best with wired machines or that it won't work over wi-fi period?
Also, will this work through the cloud exempli gratia I link my zone with a copy of MC running on a computer in Kansas (I'm in Colorado)?
JimH:
It should work on Linux, but the build matters. Changes have been made in recent Windows builds, so the latest build of MC for Linux would be needed.
Llannis:
I played a bit with two bluetooth speakers (I am sorry but its my only option here...). I can see that when no object or person intervenes in between the line of connection both speakers play synced.
I can't figure out how to volume up/down both speakers simultaneously. Could you please help me with that? Can I set one at 85% and the other at 100% and then volume up/down based on those settings?
Also, it seems that sometimes when the next track starts they are out of sync. At those instances, when I stop and restart playback, everything gets back to normal. I will play around a bit more to see if I can get more specific on this.
verden:
I have 2 PCs, 2 Macs, and 3 Raspberry Pis. I followed these instructions and can get the windows zones to link and the Mac zones to link. I can't get any Pi zones to link up with each other. I also can't get a PC zone to link with a Mac zone. Running 24.0.015 everywhere.
Any recommendations to try?
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